Having fun stitching into circles punched out of my colour palette sheet for my daily drawings… as always, I’m baffled by my preference for working with the bits headed for the bin. I think it’s the random nature of the mark making and the transformation that comes from using punched shapes that is so appealing. Decisions taken out of my hands – the opposite of the control of my work as a graphic designer!
ABC collage session
Really great online collage session in mid-February led by @catherine_cartright_artist for ABC. Catherine put together packs of papers for everyone, and we all snipped and glued away, making collages on the theme of ‘pairs’. Very interesting to hear how she uses collage in her work with trauma-based community groups. On a much less meaningful level, I made a small book of funny faces. What I love so much about collage is not having a plan, so the end result is always a surprise. Many thanks Catherine for an excellent way to spend 45 minutes on a Wednesday evening.
Kate Semple workshop
The original collage created in the online workshop
Mid-century vessels
Collage of leftovers
In mid-June I took part in an online workshop with Kate Semple, organised by STILL Flower Drawing. It was a wonderful hour of creative messiness. We made patterned papers to create a still life collage of vases. I loved working at a fast speed - it stopped me over-thinking things, and the final collage has a more spontaneous feel as a result. As always with collage, I’m more interested in the bits that are left behind afterwards, so have gone on to create some more smaller collages in my sketchbook.
Wish I was where?
From Eva Hejdstrom
From Cathey Webb
As part of the Collage Colloquium in August (see details in previous post), participants were asked to create a collage postcard to send on the them of ‘Wish I was where?’ I decided to use some of my treasured stash of letrafilm from my friend Eva to create an image of where I’d like to be camping this summer. Actually I’d like to be camping anywhere this summer, but a combination of Corona virus and the practicalities of an increasingly elderly dog have meant that I’ve had to forego the joys of sleeping under canvas this year. But had I been able to go, this would be as good a spot as any. Based loosely on a lovely campsite I once stayed at in Eype in South Devon, on the South West coast path overlooking West Bay. Not sure the sea was ever that blue, and the beach certainly isn’t that sandy, but that’s the beauty of the artistic license of collage. To make the most of the semi-transparent nature of the letrafilm, I punched out a hole for the sun, which then lights up when held up to the real-life sun.
I received two lovely collage postcards as part of this collaborative project - one of Gotland in Sweden from Eva, and also a gorgeous boat from Cathey Webb. Both propped up in my studio to make me think wistfully of alternative places to be spending this stay-at-home summer.
Mini collages
Collage of letrafilm offcuts eft over from my book ‘Dwelling’
A pair of butterflies made from small papers in my collage box - always a treat to see what I can find!
Re-purposed technical drawings from ‘Model Engineer’ magazine, 1957
Abstract colour and pattern from Parade magazine, 1961
A pair of collages from the original miniature art gallery challenge
Following on from my collages made for the #myminiatureartgallery project, I’ve made five submissions to the Open Call from the Doug and Laurie Kanyer Art Collection. Work must be collage, and be presented as a diptych pair, with each collage being less than 2 inches square in size. An interesting challenge (although I always like working small) and perfect ti fit in to my ‘making’ hour before work. It’s worth looking at #findingjoyinthesmallestofthings on Instagram to see other entries - a very inspiring gallery of tininess.
My miniature art gallery
Nine small collages made from the paper scraps
The original pack of paper scraps supplied by Yvonne Foster
The leftovers
Welcome to #myminiatureartgallery - a tiny exhibition of tiny collages made from paper scraps generously provided by @yvonnejfoster ... I really enjoyed making these - working on a small scale and with (my own) limited rules:
1. use only scraps provided
2. they all must be 4cm square
3. each one to include two words (some more random than others)
What I found interesting was that I was more pleased with the final few collages made with dwindling supplies - I think limited resources make choices easier and focus the mind. The bottom picture shows what’s left - tempting to see if I can squeeze one final collage out of them! Many thanks again Yvonne for setting up this project...
Sketchbook jottings
The weather on my holiday this year was mainly…
A small elephant found in a junk shop in Aberystwyth
ink drawing of succulent
When your collage inadvertently matches your skirt
Grid collage - makes me think of found pieces of ceramic
Seaweed on the Gower
Recent bits and bobs from my sketchbook…
Tree rubbings
Really fun afternoon at the beginning of the month making tree collage rubbings in workshops with Year 4 at Westbury-on-Trym CofE Academy. Many thanks to the teachers and pupils for making me feel so welcome, and for all their hard work.
Dwelling
The original package of letrafilm from Sweden
Tiny collages using the stash of letrafilm kindly gifted by Eva Hejdstrom. I’m enjoying working quickly and intuitively at this small scale.
Day Pages
Overheard conversations from yesterday
Yesterday evening was the pinnacle of domestic excitement
An inventory of food and drink from yesterady
A very enjoyable day spent at a workshop run by artist Daniel Lehan - it was accompanying his exhibition 'DAY PAGES' which has just opened at UWE Bower Ashton Library, and inspired by his practice of keeping a daily diary comprising of collage and typewritten text. It was a great excuse to dust off my old typewriter, and also really inspiring to hear about the different ways he collects and creates content for both his diaries and books. The tapping of old typewriters was a soothing soundtrack to the day (not sure other people using the library agreed!)
One mouse-chewed magazine
Clearing out the garage over the festive break I came across a 1960's magazine which had been chewed by mice. As a spin-off from my recycling collage challenge, I decided to see how many different collages I could make from it. Some are in the square format as the recycling collages and others are in my sketchbook… amazing colours and typography. Very grateful to the mouse for giving me permission to chop up something I would otherwise have just filed away!
Collage challenge continues
wrapping paper and envelopes
swedish stamp, envelopes, a letter and a shopping list
an envelope, an old magazine and pattern from last year's calendar
A busy start to the year with work, so I'm a little behind with blog posts… I've been carrying on with making collages from paper rescued from each week's recycling box. It's turning into quite a mixed bag of a project so far...
Wrapping up for the year
Finally time for the festive holiday to start - looking forward to a couple of weeks off. Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2018!
Collage challenge
Lots of envelopes at this time of year, so mainly patterned liners and postmarks
From an interior's catalogue and some offcuts of book pages from a papier mâché project
Paper culled from a free supermarket magazine
The ABC (Artists' Book Club) at UWE have a group project running this year to create books on the theme of 'found'. I've set myself a challenge to make at least one collage each week using only the paper I've salvaged from that week's recycling box. I'm not quite sure what form the book will take yet, but I'm enjoying playing around with collage and I'm surprised how different each one looks. My favourite thing about collage is the element of chance - I never know how the finished piece will work when I start working on it. Very liberating for a control freak...
PaperLove – week five: mail
The final project - book cover collage
An avian variation on an origami heart box
Sad to report that the wonderful five week PaperLove e-course with Rachel Hazell is now over. It's been a lot of fun, and a great excuse to make new things that otherwise would never have progressed beyond endless pondering. The final week's projects involved making an origami heart box (which turned into a, less romantic, bird) and a collage on a book cover using stamps, labels, books and ephemera from previous weeks. I really enjoyed working on this collage - like a jigsaw puzzle where you make your own pieces - and I'd like to make more of these in future.
PaperLove - week three: word
Collaged off-cuts of lettering practice
Snake concertina book to contain my messy lettering practice
Lettering practice
Concertina books of quotes
Little bit out of my comfort zone in week three of the PaperLove e-course. All about words. Pictures are really my thing, but I had fun finding patterns in letters, and also learning a new way to create a folded book cover to contain a concertina book. Really enjoying creating new work that's taking me in a different direction to my usual, well-trodden, path.
PaperLove - week two: collage
Collage map of my local dog walks.
Collage butterflies.
Making custom strips of tape with vintage papers and double sided tape.
Collaged strips of layered image of three humument painted pages.
A collaged box (made from greybeard and papier mache)
In my element with the second week of the PaperLove e-course - collage is one of my very favourite things in life. My studio is currently covered in snippets of paper, most of which I can't bear to throw away because they might just come in useful!
Sketchbook glimpses
Since June last year I've been keeping a regular sketchbook - I've enjoyed working on a small scale (A6) and without the intention of anything being preparatory. Quite liberating, and the first time I've done this since before I started my MA in 2011. When left to my own devices, I revert to pattern and collage, and it's been fun to start painting again. Some pages above from the past few weeks...
